The use of cannabis for medical uses has increased over the past few years because of its potential benefits and near-zero side effects. CBD balms are one of the products that are advertised for muscle pain all over the internet.
Many companies claim that these balms have magic pain releasing properties and can treat any muscle pain in no time. In this article, we will discuss whether or not these claims are true and if CBD can be considered as the magic cure for pain.
How Is CBD Balm Made?
CBD balms are made by infusing the cannabidiol extract in beeswax along with some other ingredients that cumulatively help in reducing inflammation.
The cannabidiol is extracted from the Cannabis Sativa plant. A lot of different companies such as Cheef Botanicals produce these balms that are available both online as well in stores. In addition to beeswax, other products such as coconut oil, tea tree oil and other essential oils are added to them to enhance their properties.
How Does It Act On The Body?
As discussed, the CBD balm is made with cannabidiol. These cannabinoids target the specific area in the skin where the balm is applied. This means that it only works on a specific part of the body. The skin absorbs the cannabinoids, and they go and bind with the cannabinoid receptors in the skin which form a part of the endocannabinoid system—hence causing a relaxing sensation in the body. It is effective for a certain period and has to be re-applied once the pain starts to resurface.
It is important to note that this balm helps reduce pain but does not treat the underlying condition due to which a person is experiencing the pain. To read more about how cannabis can help ease the pains read this article: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jul/14/cannabis-painkiller-cbd-oil-yorkshire
Is It As Effective As Advertised?
So, is CBD as effective as it is being advertised? In short, yes. These balms act as good pain killers just like any other over the counter balm. However, it does not mean that it is a miracle cure for all the pain. The reason that it is considered so good is that it comes with no side effects and very few people are allergic to it.
Also, it has been seen in many pieces of research that cannabidiol is effective in soothing the inflammation of the muscles after an intense workout. Hence it does help with muscle recovery. Also, it helps treat a variety of skin conditions that are caused due to inflammation such as pyrosis, eczema and even pimples. The best way to apply the balm is to rub it on the area with muscle inflammation so that it is absorbed into the skin and starts acting.
The research on the effectiveness of CBD is limited. However, even this limited research says that the balm has anti-inflammatory properties helping people with normal muscle pains or chronic conditions such as arthritis.
Are There Any Side Effects?
CBD, in general, is extremely safe to use. Since it is a natural product and also does not get absorbed into the bloodstream, applying it on the skin is safe. However, some people might be allergic to cannabidiol and hence should do a patch test before applying it on a larger part of the skin.
In some cases, you will have to make sure not to apply the balm on any cuts and bruises. Always read the guidelines mentioned on the box.
Also, a lot of the balms come with other ingredients as well, which can also cause inflammation or reaction to the skin. If you have sensitive skin, it is always better to use unscented balms that only have CBD and no other oil. Click here to find out in detail if you should take CBD for pain.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can safely say that yes, the cannabidiol infused balms are effective in relieving pain. However, they are no magic cure. They are as effective as any other over the counter pain relief balms.
The only additional benefits are that they are natural and do not cause any side effects. So, if you are an athlete or someone with chronic conditions such as arthritis, you can try out the CBD infused muscle balms and see if they work for you.
